Building My Entertainment Center #1: Building My Entertainment Center for new TV

I haven’t done many Blogs on Lumberjocks. A cpl of buddy’s on here suggested I write one on the progress of an Entertainment Center I’m building. We need a new for the new 64 inch plasma TV were buying. The design is a mixture of plans from a Wood Smith book and some ideas found on here. For example the Floating Glass Shelf comes from fellow LJ Storemore, http://lumberjocks.com/projects/41018.I had to change the plans to ensure my Electronics would fit along with looking proportional with the new TV. I never really kept a detailed log of neither time spent nor money spent on projects. Like most of us I’m sure, I always had an idea but not detailed journal like this. I told myself on this project I was going to TAKE MY TIME! So far, so good. I am sure it is taking me longer than our professional cabinet workers on here, but thus far it has been fun. I hope this does not bore you.

• 7 hrs; planning and picking out wood for project & making double raised side panels for case.• 2 hrs; sanding side panels.• 2 hrs; gluing & sanding side panels.• 4 hrs; cutting out dadoes & rabbets with router on case top & bottom & sides for partition’s and shelves.• 2 hrs; laying out & drilling holes for top and partition’s and shelves.• 2 hrs; starts cutting and laying out 2-inch thick top with rough edge.• 6 hrs; making partitions and jig to drill holes for shelf pins. • 5 hrs; glued and screwed case together, started cutting face frames and bottom rails for assembly.• 5 hrs; finished gluing on the face frame & installed solid wood filler strip on the bottom of case.• 5 hrs; sanding and more sanding and more sanding YUK! Cut and glued all shelves with hardwood fronts.• 4 hrs; started base and flushed routered shelves and sanded. • 2 hrs; planning size and style of doors & drawer by laying out of wood for Book match and best grain flow.• 6 hrs; made 2 raised panel doors and drawer front along with locking dado drawer box.

So far this has been fun and challenging at times working by yourself with a big object. I worked under a sun shade outside the door of my shop so I could move around inside the shop and work. I am using Knotty Alder from Rob, @ (www.tulepeaktimber.com) for all the solid wood and ¾” Ash Cabinet Grade Plywood for case. Money spent thus far;

There always a dark side to every project but the end result is something you made with your own hands and not from some factory aboard. Your panels came out great and even better is that you can work out side, were still a couple of months out til that happen here, envy. Keep up the good work and enjoy the project…BC

Thx everyone, I have been meaning to do a blog. Its because of all the fellow LJ’s that have helped me improve as a woodworker no doubt. I watched 2 different videos this weekend on finishing. One by the Woodwhisper on dyes and the other Charles Neil on blotch control. I instantly purchased C. Neal’s product! I am considering attending one of his finishing classes. Of course, once it warms up east of the Rockies that is!!! LOL Sorry had to rub it in a little to the boys making comments about me working outside :>)